The Crafter's Reference Library

Posted by Coventry Crafters (our EPL crafting group) and Staff

As the weather cools, many people begin to think of crafting as a way to spend chilly nights or create unique holiday gifts.  Whether you are a beginner or experienced creative person, we can help you find the info you need to plan and execute your next project.  Listed below are some of our favorite books covering a variety of skills and levels of expertise.  For a great list of non-fiction knit-lit, jump to our previous post.  And as always, if you have questions, please let us know - we'll do our best to help, even if it means simple knitting lessons.

Socks From the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns From Wendy Knits by Wendy Johnson.  Shows it all with lots of pattern and style choices.

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book  Tons of basic stitch patterns and it tells you everything you need to know for a project.

Anything by Barbara Walker, including A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.



You Can Paper Piece by Carol Doak (available through interlibrary loan).  A great beginner's 'how-to" for quilting

Teach Yourself Visually Crochet by Cecily Keim.  Step by Step instructions with pictures to help guide you; also available for knitting, sock knitting, handspinning, beading, sewing, hand-dyeing, and circular knitting.

Crochet Stitch Bible by Betty Barnden.  Lots of great crochet stitches - beginner to expert levels.



Hand-dyeing Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan.  An excellent beginner dyeing how-to instructions for a variety of techniques using dyes from food coloring to more professional types.

Beads, Buttons and Bijoux by Nathalie Delhaye.  Super simple and elegant designs for rings, necklaces and bracelets made from beads and buttons.

Beautiful Button Jewelry by Susan Davis.  Elegant, classy and unique ways to use the buttons in your button jar.

craftsy.com - free and paid craft classes on-line.